AYE Pepple Independent Soccer Tourney Holds Oct. 1

All is now set for the sec
ond edition of the eagerly awaited 2014 ‘Old Port Harcourt Independence All Stars Soccer Tournament’. Just like last year, the one day tournament  holds on October 1st 2014 at the Governor Rotimi Amaechi  beautifully reconstructed No 1 field ground between Niger
and Bende Street in old Port Harcourt Township.
The 2014  edition among other things aims to commemorate Nigeria’s  54th Independence Day anniversary celebration.
Sponsored for the second year running by the Rivers state  House of Assembly Member Representing Bonny Constituency, Hon. Aye Atamah Pepple (Man 2 Watch), the event is expected  to feature eight teams as against six that featured last  year.  Speaking to newsmen on his choice to sponsor a football tournament in Port Harcourt instead of Bonny, he said, ‘ I  also sponsor football competitions every December in Bonny,  but however the Old Port Harcourt Independence All Stars  Soccer Tournament is somewhat a personal social  responsibility in which I decided to embark upon. For the records, I am a core old Port Harcourt township  personality and this football event to me provides an  opportunity for me to give back to society and the neighbourhood I grew up. It is another way of celebrating  Nigeria’s independence with some football funfair, spread the spirit of love because I believe in the biblical  doctrine of ‘Love thy neighbor as you love thyself” and  to expose our body to some level of physical training among other things.
Further speaking he noted that the tournament will provide an opportunity to unwind and encourage boundless social integration devoid of class, creed or affiliations. “Port  Harcourt Township will ever remain green in my memory” he  said adding that the tournament is another way to sustain  and reflect his deep love and appreciation for an area that saw him through some of his developmental stages in life.
The tournament is expected to spark up intense rivalry, teams expected to lock horns  for this year’s  tournament include; Kallongii Sports Club, All Stars FC PH, Ex Professionals, Cartel FC, Amalgamated All Stars, Club 58,  Crystal Stars and Liverpool FC.
It will be recalled that last year’s tournament was a  phenomenal success, as six teams locked horns against each  other. The atmosphere was absolutely electric and  that the spectators were  lamouring for more… This year’s tournament according to Chike Owakah, the Chairman  of the organizing  committee shall be bigger and  better.
He said that the  lawmaker has affected  an  increase in the take home prize money as the winner for this  year is expected to cart home a whopping N200,000,   while the first and second runners up smile home with N150,000 and N100,000 respectively. “There shall also be lots of individual prizes for the Best Goalkeeper, Highest Goal Scorer, and Most Valuable Player among others” he was quoted as saying.  He urged all and sundry to turn out en masse for the one day tourney.

Enyeama in action for Lille of France